Prince William erupted with fury after learning of internal complaints about Meghan Markle's alleged mistreatment of palace staff, triggering what sources described as a major rupture in his relationship with Prince Harry. The claims, detailed in historian Robert Lacey's book Battle of Brothers, allege that Meghan created a "toxic environment" during her time at Kensington Palace, where staff reportedly endured emotional distress and, in one case, symptoms akin to PTSD.
Jason Knauf, then a royal aide to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, compiled what Lacey called a "dossier of distress," outlining grievances from staff who said they received a barrage of emails from Meghan starting as early as 5 a.m. "Meghan would begin firing off emails as early as 5 am, leaving staff with a 'barrage' of messages in their inboxes," one insider told Lacey.
The allegations shocked Prince William, who was reportedly "astonished" and "horrified" before he "went ballistic," according to the book. Lacey wrote: "A tradition within the Royal Family had been broken." William's outrage stemmed from a belief in treating palace staff "like family," compounded by his personal connection with many of the alleged victims.
Following his initial reaction, William immediately contacted Harry to confront him over the complaints. "The moment the Prince heard the bullying allegations, he got straight on the phone to talk to Harry - and when Harry flared up in furious defense of his wife, the elder brother persisted," Lacey stated. When the conversation ended with Harry angrily hanging up, William reportedly visited his brother in person on the Kensington Palace campus.
The fallout from that encounter marked a turning point in the brothers' relationship. "The estrangement between the two princes had been 'hard and sad,'" Knauf later reflected. The tensions were visible even before the so-called "Megxit" in 2020, when Harry and Meghan publicly announced their departure from royal duties. In Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the Duke of Sussex remarked on their strained dynamic, saying, "you have good days, you have bad days."
Sources described the work culture under Meghan as highly stressful. One aide was said to have sought therapy due to emotional damage. "It's talking behind your back. It's gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like, Mean Girls teenager," one source told a publication in February. Another said, "She's constantly playing checkers - I'm not even going to say chess - but she's just very aware of where everybody is on her board."
Meghan reportedly dismissed staff concerns, telling a senior aide, "It's not my job to coddle people." That remark only deepened William's frustration and intensified the rift between the brothers.
The relationship has shown little sign of recovery. In a recent interview, Harry ruled out returning to the U.K. with his family. "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," he said. "I love my country; I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done... and I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland."
Their last public appearance together occurred during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022. Although both reportedly attended a private memorial for their uncle, Robert Fellowes, in 2023, communication between them remains limited.
